Caldwell joins the Clarets
Last updated : 01 February 2007 By Tony Scholes
It was a last minute deal, with the Clarets having just nine minutes to spare before completing the transfer, one that will see the RK Sunderland defender move to Turf Moor in a three year deal for a fee that is initially £200,000 with another £200,000 to be paid at a later date.
Burnley fans stepped into 2007 fearing the worst, and expecting to see the squad reduced as it had in the previous two years, but it has been one signing after another since Ade Akinbiyi put pen to paper on a two and a half year deal on New Year's Day.
On Monday of last week, after confirming the signing of Icelandic international Joey Gudjonsson, the Burnley boss said he was still hoping to bring two more players in. He said he'd be delighted if he could get both and pleased if he could get one of them. Today's news means that Steve is pleased after securing the services of central defender Caldwell on a three and a half year deal.
Born in Stirling, he moved to England to join Newcastle United as an apprentice footballer and signed a professional deal with the Magpies on completion of his apprenticeship. He was just past his 20th birthday when he made his first team bow in a Premiership game at Manchester City.
That was in September 2000, and by the end of the season he'd become a full international after being called up by Scotland boss Bertie Vogts for a friendly against Poland in Bydgoscz. In a 1-1 draw he came on as a substitute during the second half to win the first of nine caps to date, replacing Charlie Miller.
In the following season he was twice sent out on loan by Newcastle boss Bobby Robson, firstly to Blackpool and then to Bradford City, and he would have made his first appearance on the Turf on New Year's Day 2002 for the Yorkshire club had game not been frozen off.
He did get back in the Newcastle side in the following season, got his first goal, and played in a Champions League tie against Bayer Leverkusen, but it wasn't the start of a long run in the first team and after going out on loan to Leeds in the 2003/04 season he found himself released in the summer of 2004 and moved just down the road to Sunderland.
His first season on Wearside was his best yet, forming an effective partnership with Gary Breen as the Mackems clinched promotion to the Premiership, ending the season seven points clear of second place Wigan. He scored four goals that season, including the crucial winner in a 2-1 win against Leicester that clinched promotion. It was during this season that he played at Burnley for the first time.
Last season he played in the worst Premiership side ever and this season was unfortunate to be out injured when new manager Roy Keane took over. He did win his place back in the side, but the signing of Jonny Evans on loan from Manchester United means he became available and he's taken the opportunity offered to him by the Clarets and he will be in the squad for the game at QPR on Saturday.
